errr...... ahem..... at the risk of sounding perplexed....
1 Insert Allen Key and turn in a counter-clockwize direction.
2 Repeate turning motion untill the errant bolt seems "loose" then pull up
and remove.
3 Carefuly inspect nasty cap screw and wag finger at it.
4 Go to junk pile, fastener supplier, bolt bin etc and find a suitable
replacement with more acceptable head.
5 Return to machine and inser replacement bolt - this time turning in a
clockwize direction.


In all seriousness though - replace them -easyer and cheaper than futzing
with them - also, the bolts used on the import maches I have seen are really
poor grade - watch the pitch - they may be metric

Tom


"Robin S." wrote in message
...
I have to work on Chinese/Taiwanese lathes at work. For some reason, they
decided to have every single clamping screw, that didn't have a handle
attached, a cap screw.

Cap screws are fine and dandy until they get filled up with coolant and
chips and I have to fiddle-fart around with them every time I want to move
the depth stop or compound or saddle clamp.

Of course, by the end of making a part, I'm super-****ed due to these
stupid
screws and having to use a lathe graduated in .04mm increments (learning
how
to count in 4's now) and who knows how many millimetres/rev (inch
leadscrews).

Anyway, has anyone thought up some kind of clamping fastener that doesn't
require a tool but fits into counterbored screw holes? I'm mostly venting
(perhaps someone will enlighten me as to why they do this???) but I do
like
to make things easier for myself. There's nothing I hate more than to have
to fiddle around with a machine instead of with the part I'm trying to
make.

/rant

Regards,

Robin